Heart Shaped Granola

I made these heart-shaped healthy granola with dried cranberries to participate in uploading something Valentine for Valentine's day weekend. Yup, this is also has been a while, I am late with all of my posts.

Steel Cut Oats Breakfast

This is definitely one of my favorite breakfasts. We had a short trip to Taipei over the new year and after we settled down back at home, this breakfast was so comforting. Ready or not, we are in 2017. 

The steel cut oats were prepared with almond milk and simply topped with pomegranate seeds and berries.

Chia Pudding

Two more das before we say goodbye to 2016. I ask the same thing like everybody asks, where did the time go?? Have I failed to treasure the days that have passed? It is hard to believe that the year that feels so new, is now nearly over. There have always been things to do, million things to chose from, if you desire that. I am happy that I don't have a day in which I get bored and have no clue on what I should do. I love most of everything that happened this year and I will do my best to forget the unpleasant things that took place.

I still have lots of love for chia pudding. It's a healthy but simple thing to prepare and there are so many variations to make. You can use any type of liquid, milk, chocolate flavor, matcha, vanilla, cinnamon sugar, etc. You can top the pudding with anything you like as well. Your imagination is the limit.

Cocoa Oatmeal Balls

These Cocoa Oatmeal balls are simple to make and they are great healthy snacks or breakfast if you like, or both. 

Ingredients:
10-12 medjool dates, removed the seed and slice
1 cup oatmeal
1/3 c coconut oil
1/3 c cocoa powder
1/2 c grated coconut
1 Tsp chia seeds
1/3 c grated coconut for final coating

Toast oatmeal with 1/2 of the coconut oil over medium heat, stir occasionally until they smell fragrant and toasty. Let them cool. 

Process the oatmeal using a food processor, add sliced dates and process more. They do not have to be very smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix using the food processor until they come together. Roll into balls and roll them in grated coconut to coat. 

Baked Oatmeal With Berries

I love baked oatmeal and berries make it even more delicious. In this, I added grated coconut and pumpkin seeds, the oats were mixed with maple syrup and that brought it to another yummy level.

Egg Breakfast

Having a loaf of Ciabatta helps. Especially when you are in need for easy breakfast in the morning when your time is limited. I grilled my homemade Ciabatta and topped them up with a sunny side up egg that simply seasoned with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and sliced green onion. To make it healthier, i put some greens on the side. Simple. 

Chia Pudding

This is still one of my favorite breakfasts. It is easy to prepare and it doesn't require that many ingredients.

German Pancake (Dutch Baby Pancake)

This is one of my favorite breakfast to have, particularly now that I find making it less challenging. They key is the temperature and the timing of the oven. I can top it with anything and want and it's always delicious.

This time, I caramelized some apples and simply pour them on top of the pancake, together with some raspberries and mint leaves. Finally, some grated coconut sealed the deal. Breakfast was ready.

Steel Cut Oats Breakfast

This is an easy but healthy breakfast that I like to prepare from time to time. I cooked the oats with almond milk and stirred in matcha powder that has been mixed into a tablespoon of water, into the cooked oats. In the bottom of the mug is pomegranate seeds and on top are blueberries, raspberries and finally I sprinkled some grated coconut and mint leaves. 

Mixed Berry Oatmeal Crumble

This mixed berry oatmeal crumble is perfect for anytime of the day. It is great for breakfast, as dessert or for supper. Basically, anytime. It is healthy and taste delicious. 

Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of mixed berries (I used blackberries, raspberries and blueberries)
1 Tbs flour
1Tbs coconut sugar

1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup grated coconut (optional)
1/4 cup brown sugar
a dash of cinnamon powder (optional)
a dash of nutmeg (optional)
1/4 cup coconut oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 170C
2. Combine berries with  1Tbs flour and 1Tbs coconut sugar (or more if needed), toss to coat
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, coconut, brown sugar, cinnamon powder, nutmeg and coconut oil
4. Spread about a half of the oatmeal mixture on the base of the greased ramekin (pan), cover with the berries and top with the remaining half of the oatmeal mixture
5. Bake about 30 minutes until golden brown and the berries are bubbly.

Life Kitchen -Chicago, Lunch

It was Friday in Chicago and we stayed away form eating meat. .... It's lunch time and we headed back to Lyfe Kitchen, because that's the only nearby place than we could think of that offers healthy vegetarian food. 

Here we were and we had:

Fish Tacos, with grilled mahi mahi

Veggie Burger

Quinoa crunch bowl

Simple greens

Breakfast at Lyfe Kitchen, Chicago

Another day in Chicago and we needed to have breakfast. We decided on a nearby Lyfe Kitchen for some healthier meals.

Here, the three of us had:

Omelette with Avocado

Black coffee

Steel cut oats with dried cranberries, toasted almond, Greek yoghurt and pure maple syrup

Blueberry buttermilk pancakes with Greek yoghurt and pure maple syrup

Salmon Salad

Salad is always the right pick for a light lunch or dinner. To make it more exciting, sometimes I add something else to it, like pan seared salmon. Pan seared salmon doesn't take a long time and outrageous seasoning. I use salt and pepper and a little olive oil to brown both sides and crisp the skin. I also added garbanzo beans, walnut and pears to the salad to create a more balance overall flavor. 

Chia Pudding Breakfast

Chia pudding breakfast does not take much time to prepare, mainly because it is prepared the night before. What I need to do in the morning is chopping up the fruit and topping the pudding with whatever I want. And breakfast is ready. A fresh and healthy one. 

Salad With Scallops

Such a delicious salad. I love everything that I put there and want more. The fried egg was crispy with running yolk and the scallops were simple but tasted perfect. The salad was seasoned simply with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Chocolate Chia Pudding

Here comes my wicked chocolate chia pudding that I had yesterday morning. The pudding had pomegranate seeds on the base and topped with more pomegranate, cubed mangoes and strawberries.

Back To Oats

A week into 2016, I wanted to have oats for breakfast. This was steel cut oats, cooked with milk and water, topped with blackberries, strawberries, dried figs, cubed mangoes and granola and lastly, a dollop of peanut butter, which made everything in the bowl, a lot better.......

Granola Breakfast

I always like to have a more elaborate granola for breakfast. It is a bit too plain if I have granola with yoghurt alone, especially when time permits. I tend to eat fruits in the morning anyway. It's my ritual that is hard to break. So here is my granola breakfast.  I had it with pomegranate, raspberries, persimmon, dried figs, blueberries and mint leaves and sprinkled them with chia seeds for extra boost for health. 

Egg Breakfast

The sea is calm now, for now at least. I had a very draining end of the week, very unexpectedly and had to wake up to a crappy Monday, feeling so beaten up. What a way to begin the week! Life throws curve balls again and again. No matter how experienced you are, they are still curve balls and you don't anticipate the way they come. As they say, life goes on. It does go on, and I have to go on with life, whether I like it or not. Life goes on whether I am ready to move on or not. Life goes on whether I have to walk limping or crawl or cry a super heavy baggage on my back. Life does not care. Life does not stop and gives you a break, so just move on!

I had imagined this breakfast since my days in Shanghai last week. Grilled tomatoes, spinach with gorgonzola, sautéed garbanzo beans and fried egg with runny yolk. 

I was so glad to be back home and had them, they way I wanted them to be. They are filling and they are healthy. Just the way I wanted them to be. I guess some aspects in our life are quite controllable.

Banana Cake Breakfast

I had some ripe bananas that need to be consumed. I had an option to slice and put them in the freezer for future use, but I had the urge to bake. 

This is an oatmeal banana cake, a healthier version. Eating it with fresh fruits just make it more flavorful and delicious. It doesn't take too long to prepare, but a bit long to bake, but it's really something that is worth waiting for. 

Recipe:

For 2 servings. Grease two 5"ramekins or baking pans.  Preheat oven to 350F. In a medium size bowl, whisk 1 egg and 1/3 cup of coconut sugar. Add 2/3 cup of oatmeal, 1/4 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of baking powder and mix well. Add mashed banana (1 medium size banana), 1/3 cup of buttermilk and 1/8 cup of coconut oil. Mix well. Pour the batter into prepared pans, decorate the tops with sliced bananas. Bake 30-45 minutes until a tester inserted, comes out clean.